September 23, 2018

January 23, 2018

This is always my favourite part. The songs are written, now it’s time for the recording. Yves not only plays great guitar, he’s also a fine drummer. Today we get to put down the drums on the new Oskar’s Drum songs. I say ‘we’, but I just sit there grinning. Next it’s time to start mixing. The new pieces sound spacious and dirty. And sad and dancey. Can’t wait to get it out there.

September 23, 2017

Though quiet here, it’s been a busy time. I’ve written a guide to end of life care, for patients and families rather than doctors. More of that soon – it will be out in October hopefully.

To brighten the mood after months of intense focus on dying, there are two gigs booked. Oskar’s Drum play Salford October 29th at the Eagle with Stephen Hero (me, solo) opening. We play London Oslo, November 3rd, opening for Brix and the Extricated. The second Oskar album is a huge dark beast, and we’re looking forward to playing a few of the new songs at these shows. It will be out early in the new year.

You can get tickets for Salford from Bandcamp by clicking here: BANDCAMP

March 11, 2017

This was fun. A weekend in Wales, meeting up with my friend Fern to support her on her odyssey around the newly opened and lengthy coastal path. She was in Anglesey, one of my favourite places, so I went down for the weekend. Fern and I had worked together years ago on This Imaginary Woman, a theatrical song cycle of grief for Volcano theatre company. Now 13 years later I wondered if she fancied dancing to our new Oskar’s Drum song? We talked about different scenarios: a dark studio room with roaming lights, of two dancers interacting. What about just dancing on the beach listening to the song for the first time, I asked? Only if I can do anything I want, said Fern, knowing that she wasn’t one to hold back. And here it is, spliced from three performances in quick succession: wild, wet and free. Love it. Thanks so much Fern.

March 4, 2017

This was a saga. Test pressing after test pressing. Put me off vinyl for life. Finally we got a company who could do it properly, but it took a year to make. A year for a 7″ single. Not like that in 1966, when I think this song could have been around. Obsession and desire in a wash of piano and guitars. And French horns and flutes. And a beautiful vocal from Tanya Donelly. It deserved a physical release I felt, and I’m so glad it’s finally come together.

Here’s a slow film to go with it, walking up the steps of Hatshepsut’s temple on the left bank of the Nile. Next week you get the video for Anyone but Yourself, and the single gets mailed out. Thanks for bearing with us.

February 18, 2017

We’ve made a video for The April Seven song ‘Platform Shoes’. The CD of Pop Tarkovsky has been repressed and is available again from Bandcamp.

I’m very fond of this song. Fred sings of our 70s youth, the foibles, the fashion, the New York Dolls, Bowie. What a great time to be a kid, such amazing stomping music. What an awful time to be a kid, playing fashion catch up, the mad switch from glam to punk. Fred was down in Southampton, dealing with the southern prejudices. I was at school in Rusholme, at the hands of the ruffians. Couldn’t wait to escape.

February 12, 2017

Really glad to announce this 7″ single which has been some time in the making. It should have been ready last year prior to A Cathedral of Hands but the vinyl pressing plant we used were unhelpful. After much hassle it’s sorted and due for release March 17th via Bandcamp.

January 28, 2017

One Little Indian are releasing a box set of their Kitchens of Distinction’s back catalogue on March 3rd. This is a remastered CD collection of all four studio albums, B sides and the two BBC sessions we did. It’s available here:

http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/kitchens-of-distinction-box-set
I wasn’t directly involved in this collection, as my historic relationship with OLI has not been good. I didn’t want to be party to something I didn’t have direct control over. That said, it’s a good job. It’s a mostly complete document of our time with the label, featuring great liner notes and photos. Missing tracks that some commentators are complaining about are either not owned by OLI, or due to band veto. We were never going to add in music that OLI didn’t own due to their inability to account to us. Tedious but practical.

January 22, 2017

Thanks to everyone for their support of both of last year’s records. I’ve had a few emails asking for a repressing of Pop Tarkovsky. I’m happy to do this if there’s enough demand out there. Let me know.

In the meantime there are two Oskar’s Drum shows coming up: March 17th Preston Continental and March 18th London Lexington, opening for the Railway Children.

November 7, 2016

A Cathedral of Hands is released today via Bandcamp. £10 for the CD or £8 for the digital download. 10 new songs. The CD comes with an 8 page lyric booklet.
“Patrick’s voice still sounds really, really good and the whole album has such a timeless feel about it” Gideon Coe BBC 6 MUSIC
“The welcome return of Patrick Fitzgerald from Kitchens Of Distinction. Gorgeous heartfelt songs that swoop and soar. Lovely stuff!” Piccadilly Records